Let your dough rest at room temperature for about 20 minutes.
Jack up your oven to its highest heat.
Roll out the dough; try to make a circle.
Put the rest of the ingredients on, save some fresh herbs for pizza exit.
Bake for 7 minutes.
Sprinkle with fresh herbs and slice up!

This is the easiest pizza to make! Get yourself some herbed cheese, herbed dough and fresh herbs and GO!

Let your dough rest at room temperature for about 20 minutes.
Jack up your oven to its highest heat.
Roll out the dough; try to make a circle.
Put the rest of the ingredients on, save some fresh herbs for pizza exit.
Bake for 7 minutes.
Sprinkle with fresh herbs and slice up!

Monday, February 16, 2015

The cupcake beast baker from within resurfaced days ago making these gossamers for Relationship Status Awareness Day. The inspiration came from a cake recipe found on the internet as "The BEST chocolate cake ever...that happens to be vegan" - and it's easy to understand why. If you disagree, then you're probably just a brownie eater or hate desserts. Roses and strawberries turned into the frosting; just add champagne and boom you're Cassanova.

Frosting
Beat vegan butter until fluffy. Add powdered sugar, roses and strawberries and beat for two minutes.
Frost your cupcakes and be merry.

The cupcake beast baker from within resurfaced days ago making these gossamers for Relationship Status Awareness Day. The inspiration came from a cake recipe found on the internet as "The BEST chocolate cake ever...that happens to be vegan" - and it's easy to understand why. If you disagree, then you're probably just a brownie eater or hate desserts. Roses and strawberries turned into the frosting; just add champagne and boom you're Cassanova.

Monday, December 22, 2014

Every Christmas my friend, Laura, throws and Ugly Christmas Sweater party. There is no reason why the food shouldn't get crazy festive too, especially when it comes to cheese wrapped in pastry. Tiropita, or cheese pie, does not get augmented in the household I belong to, save for the time my little brother made cheddar cheese tiropita, and then ate it all.

It was perfect timing that I received a Greek love package from good old PA filled with Uniquely Greek feta spreads plus a T-shirt! I sampled these gems in Whole Foods when I lived in Philly so naturally I was super excited to have a supply of my own. I love supporting Greek products and this is one that I was lucky to taste again as their products haven't hit the Northwest market yet. The Fire Roasted Red Pepper and Spinach were used to make the red and green Christmas colors in this pita. Uniquely Greek, a sister-brother owned company, has some cool stuff - I'm excited to try the Spicy Buffalo and Kalamata Olive spreads next! If you can't find these spreads in your hood, order online.

Heat oven to 375 degrees F. In a skillet, saute the red bell pepper until blistered. Let it cool and melt your butter and start preparing your baking vessel with bottom layers of phyllo. Layer about 10 leaves, sprinkling butter in between each sheet

In a large bowl, add the Roasted Red Pepper feta spread, 1/2 cup feta, 2 eggs, 1/2 shredded cheese and sauteed peppers. Spread the mix on the phyllo. Add a layer of phyllo on top.

Wash the red bowl out and use it to make the white layer: mix 1/2 cup feta, 2 eggs 1/2 shredded cheese and ricotta. Spread on top of the last phyllo layer. Wash bowl out and make green layer with the remaining ingredients. Layer the rest of the phyllo, but melted butter sprinkled in-between each layer. Score the top and bake for about 40 minutes or until golden brown. Enjoy with spiked nog!

Every Christmas my friend, Laura, throws and Ugly Christmas Sweater party. There is no reason why the food shouldn't get crazy festive too, especially when it comes to cheese wrapped in pastry. Tiropita, or cheese pie, does not get augmented in the household I belong to, save for the time my little brother made cheddar cheese tiropita, and then ate it all.

It was perfect timing that I received a Greek love package from good old PA filled with Uniquely Greek feta spreads plus a T-shirt! I sampled these gems in Whole Foods when I lived in Philly so naturally I was super excited to have a supply of my own. I love supporting Greek products and this is one that I was lucky to taste again as their products haven't hit the Northwest market yet. The Fire Roasted Red Pepper and Spinach were used to make the red and green Christmas colors in this pita. Uniquely Greek, a sister-brother owned company, has some cool stuff - I'm excited to try the Spicy Buffalo and Kalamata Olive spreads next! If you can't find these spreads in your hood, order online.

Heat oven to 375 degrees F. In a skillet, saute the red bell pepper until blistered. Let it cool and melt your butter and start preparing your baking vessel with bottom layers of phyllo. Layer about 10 leaves, sprinkling butter in between each sheet

In a large bowl, add the Roasted Red Pepper feta spread, 1/2 cup feta, 2 eggs, 1/2 shredded cheese and sauteed peppers. Spread the mix on the phyllo. Add a layer of phyllo on top.

Wash the red bowl out and use it to make the white layer: mix 1/2 cup feta, 2 eggs 1/2 shredded cheese and ricotta. Spread on top of the last phyllo layer. Wash bowl out and make green layer with the remaining ingredients. Layer the rest of the phyllo, but melted butter sprinkled in-between each layer. Score the top and bake for about 40 minutes or until golden brown. Enjoy with spiked nog!

Monday, December 1, 2014

The slow cooker is totally my husband's thing. He likes to throw bags of vegetables and cartons of broth in the vessel, turn it on slow and watch it go. I always feared the leftovers of slow cooking, lasting for days with a taste that won't go away. I've turned over a new leaf this Fall and started cooking chickpeas in the slow cooker, why didn't I start this sooner? The chickpeas always come out perfectly, without the hassle of mama bird hoovering tactics. So, I've always got a ton of chickpeas on hand, why not throw some more back into the slow cooker?

Do you know one of those people that always brags about their chili recipe? Does he swear by that test on Facebook that confirmed he really should have been a fireman? Does she bring chili to every social gathering, talking it up beforehand? I don't know anyone like that, either, but I've got something to talk about with him or her if I do.

Put all chili ingredients into the slow cooker on low for about 6 hours. Top with feta, kalamatas, poms and fresh oregano.

The slow cooker is totally my husband's thing. He likes to throw bags of vegetables and cartons of broth in the vessel, turn it on slow and watch it go. I always feared the leftovers of slow cooking, lasting for days with a taste that won't go away. I've turned over a new leaf this Fall and started cooking chickpeas in the slow cooker, why didn't I start this sooner? The chickpeas always come out perfectly, without the hassle of mama bird hoovering tactics. So, I've always got a ton of chickpeas on hand, why not throw some more back into the slow cooker?

Do you know one of those people that always brags about their chili recipe? Does he swear by that test on Facebook that confirmed he really should have been a fireman? Does she bring chili to every social gathering, talking it up beforehand? I don't know anyone like that, either, but I've got something to talk about with him or her if I do.

Saturday, November 8, 2014

Having recently survived ACL knee surgery and off my feet for a few weeks, I longed for the days when I could do simple stuff on my own, like make my own hummus and wear normal shoes. Once I got my legs somewhat back, I reached for my trusty food processor.

Can we talk about pumpkin? The level of pumpkin-ness has reached a whole new level of pumpkin this year. And I love it like I love Facebook, other people's selfies and Christmas music. I love perusing the pumpkin selection at Trader Joe's, scoffing at the sorry days when it was just a lonely can representin' for this time of year. I talked myself out of carving up my sugar pumpkin for Halloween, only to roast it with olive oil and salt a few days later. Just beautiful. And too beautiful to blend up for hummus, this time. However, the seeds were salvaged and roasted for hummus decor.

Chickpeas, I'm giving you a Plays Well With Others T-shirt for whirling so well with pumpkin and soy. You made a delicious, rich, festive dip that I'm ready to groove to all season long.

P.S. This is the hummus that gives you an excuse to make pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. Crack open that can for hummus, finish it with cookies. You're welcome.

Blend everything but the chickpeas ad pumpkin in a food processor for about 20 seconds until all incorporated. Toss in chickpeas and pumpkin and blend until smooth, or to your desired consistency.

Oh, hummus! It's perfect for every season and occasion.

Having recently survived ACL knee surgery and off my feet for a few weeks, I longed for the days when I could do simple stuff on my own, like make my own hummus and wear normal shoes. Once I got my legs somewhat back, I reached for my trusty food processor.

Can we talk about pumpkin? The level of pumpkin-ness has reached a whole new level of pumpkin this year. And I love it like I love Facebook, other people's selfies and Christmas music. I love perusing the pumpkin selection at Trader Joe's, scoffing at the sorry days when it was just a lonely can representin' for this time of year. I talked myself out of carving up my sugar pumpkin for Halloween, only to roast it with olive oil and salt a few days later. Just beautiful. And too beautiful to blend up for hummus, this time. However, the seeds were salvaged and roasted for hummus decor.

Chickpeas, I'm giving you a Plays Well With Others T-shirt for whirling so well with pumpkin and soy. You made a delicious, rich, festive dip that I'm ready to groove to all season long.

P.S. This is the hummus that gives you an excuse to make pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. Crack open that can for hummus, finish it with cookies. You're welcome.